Real Madrid are preparing to approach Jupp Heynckes, the Bayern Munich
manager, about the possibility of replacing Jose Mourinho rather than go
into retirement after Saturday's Champions League final.

Heynckes will leave Bayern regardless of whether his team do defeat Jurgen Klopp's Borussia Dortmund at Wembley this weekend and has previously said that the Champions League final would be the last match of his 34-year coaching career.

Madrid, however, would be interested in reappointing the 68 year-old for one final challenge in management if they continue to be frustrated by Paris St Germain in their attempts to recruit Carlo Ancelotti.

Heynckes was the manager when Real Madrid won the Champions League in 1998 and is attempting this weekend to follow Jose Mourinho, Ottmar Hitzfeld and Ernst Happel in becoming only the fourth coach in history to win the European Cup at two different clubs.

Bayern's hopes were certainly boosted yesterday by the news that Mario Gotze, the Borussia Dortmund playmaker, will miss Saturday's final with a hamstring injury.

Gotze will sign for Bayern this summer in a £32 million deal and accepts that he has now played his final match for the club.

"The final was my big goal and in the past weeks I have battled hard for it," said Gotze. "I am unbelievably sorry that I will not be able to help the team in this important match. I have huge belief in our team and will naturally travel with them to London to endeavour to support the lads off the pitch."

Dortmund are also facing an anxious wait over an ankle injury to centre-back Mats Hummels, who was signed from Bayern in 2008.

"I'm confident I'll be ready," said Hummels yesterday.

Alongside Marco Reus and Robert Lewandowski, Götze has helped Dortmund form one of the most potent attacks in Europe this season and is expected to be replaced on Saturday by Kevin Grosskreutz.